ARJ21: Comac’s Learning Experience

Fri, 2012-10-26 10:07

If people learn when things go wrong, then Comac must be learning a lot, and it is giving itself more time for its lessons, says Asia-Pacific Bureau Chief Brad Perrett.

The development of Comac’s ARJ21 is likely to last for 12 years after the target for certification slipped again, to 2014. It was previously scheduled for mid-2013. Flight-testing and avionics bugs are just some of the reasons for the delay in getting the ARJ21 certified. But the aircraft’s technology is aging even before airlines begin using it.

Check out next week’s issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology where Brad looks at why the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) is being tough with Comac, and what it could mean for the future of the ARJ21.